Dataset Information

"Implications of cost-sharing for observation care among Medicare beneficiaries: a pilot survey".

ABSTRACT:

Background

Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized under observation status have significant cost-sharing responsibilities under Medicare Part B. Prior work has demonstrated an association between increased cost-sharing and health care rationing among low-income Medicare beneficiaries. The objective of this study was to explore the potential impact of observation cost-sharing on future medical decision making of Medicare beneficiaries.

Methods

Single-center pilot cohort study. A convenience sample of Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized under observation status care was surveyed.

Results

Out of 144 respondents, low-income beneficiaries were more likely to be concerned about the cost of their observation stay than higher-income respondents (70.7% vs29.3%, p = 0.015). If hospitalized under observation status again, there was a trend among low-income beneficiaries to request completion of their workup outside of the hospital (56.3% vs 43.8%), and to consider leaving against medical advice (AMA) (100% vs 0%), though these trends were not statistically significant (p = 0.30).

Conclusion

The results of this pilot study suggest that low-income Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized under observation status have greater concerns about their cost-sharing obligations than their higher income peers. Cost-sharing for observation care may have unintended consequences on utilization for low-income beneficiaries. Future studies should examine this potential relationship on a larger scale.

SUBMITTER: Goldstein JN

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6407198 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

"Implications of cost-sharing for observation care among Medicare beneficiaries: a pilot survey".

Goldstein Jennifer N JN Schwartz J Sanford JS McGraw Patricia P Hicks LeRoi S LS

BMC health services research 20190307 1

<h4>Background</h4>Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized under observation status have significant cost-sharing responsibilities under Medicare Part B. Prior work has demonstrated an association between increased cost-sharing and health care rationing among low-income Medicare beneficiaries. The objective of this study was to explore the potential impact of observation cost-sharing on future medical decision making of Medicare beneficiaries.<h4>Methods</h4>Single-center pilot cohort study. A conve ...[more]

PMID: 30845953

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Dataset Information

"Implications of cost-sharing for observation care among Medicare beneficiaries: a pilot survey".

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

"Implications of cost-sharing for observation care among Medicare beneficiaries: a pilot survey".

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